Although I missed the launch, I've now been visited and received various free goodies, such as draught excluders on my front door, an aerating shower head, some low energy light bulbs, radiator reflector panels. It's a pretty good deal.

The guy who visited me certainly knew what he was talking about, and mentioned getting portiere rods to hang curtains behind my doors. I happened to be in Homebase, Penge yesterday, and the manager had never heard of them. With this sort of project, I wonder what sort of connections can be made with the commercial opportunities. Ideally, local businesses, such as Homebase, but maybe better Sydenham DIY, would know that there would be people going round every home in Perry Vale Ward suggesting, if appropriate, buying such a door rod, so that they could stock up, and produce some marketing material - "For portiere rods and many other home energy saving devices, come to Sydenham DIY!". Maybe some local tradesmen could help fit them.

Does anyone know what the rules might be for local businesses wanting to piggy-back off Council projects such as this - or maybe Council arranged meetings such as the Perry Vale Assembly meeting this Wednesday? I think it would be good if they could - but any arrangements would have to be transparent.

Had a visit from the Energy Saver Project yesterday and very happy with it all, as mentioned above, lots of little tricks and gadgets - makes me think twice to boil a kettle now :-), I would recommend everyone in the Pery Vale Ward to contact them

Hi there - sorry I cant help with your specific request but we too have been visited by Perry Vale Energy Savers and have been very impressed! we had the slightly unlikely plastic liners behind the radiators installed (not very high tech) but more usefully a gadget which tells you how much electricity you are using, so if you turn on the kettle it shoots up, and if you boil the kettle whilst doing some ironing, well boy you had better save up for that one!

All in all we were very pleased. Not often you get something for free these days and the guy who came around was very polite and helpful (and had the largest feet I have ever seen).

Those plastic panels make look unlikey, but they really work. I installed them a few years in a large room with three outside walls that was very hard to heat. It is noticeably warmer now and I don't have to boost the heat in there with an extra radiator anymore.

Total energy used is the same whether you boil the kettle at the same time as doing the ironing or later! What really uses power is leaving lots of lights on all the time. Have a look at how much energy you are using when you are not doing the ironing, boiling a kettle or using the washing machine and try to work out what is using the power. If you can get that down then you will see a reduction in the bills.